Kindle WiFi 3G Review
Please note that the Kindle Wi-Fi Keboard has now been discontinued. The Kindle Keyboard with 3G remains one of Amazon's best sellers as it has been for the past 4 years.
This is also why we are so dedicated to bring the Kindle Keyboard to South Africa - because it has remained top of the list of users, editors and book fanatics globally. That the Kindle has proved so popular is an indication of just how reading habits are changing in an increasingly online world. And with the introduction of a Wi-Fi only Kindle for only $139.00 or approx. R970.00, suddenly the market is opening up to a whole new audience. At such a price naysayers may claim that much of the functionality and ease of use, which made the device so popular in the first place, have been lost. Surprisingly, this just isn't the case.
The third generation of the Kindle WiFi 6" is a great way for the e-book virgin to pop their digital cherry and shows off a number of improvements on previous models. The latest edition is much slimmer and lighter - First-time users are always surprised by just how little the device may weigh in comparison to the amount of data it is able to hold. And this surprise should grow with this latest take on the Kindle. Despite being 21 per cent smaller in size and 17 per cent lighter than the previous edition, the new Kindle still offers the 6" screen - meaning the smaller size has had no impact on the reading area.
When it comes to capacity, the device is able to cater for the most studious of bookworms as well as readers who merely want to dip into tomes while on their holidays or traveling to and from work - the 3GB capacity is able to store up to 3,500 books - twice as many as the previous version of the model. The reading experience has also been improved with the high-contrast E ink screen enhancing the reader experience by as much as 50 per cent. And, much to the amazement of first-time users of the Kindle, reading using this technology is not like squinting at a computer screen. Deeper fonts and an anti-glare screen mean reading here is as easy on the eyes as it is from paper. Perhaps even easier. One of the main areas of improvement for this latest version of the device is in the high-contrast of the text. The quality is as sharp as the Kindle's own look. The device even lets the devoted holidaymaker enjoy their digital books without being dazzled by the glare of sunlight. it is perfect for indulgent holidays by the beach or just sunbathing in the back garden.
The Kindle Wi-Fi and 3G triumphs in other areas - the month-long battery life offers readers a long-term use from a single charge. Wi-Fi is perfect for either use at home or in internet hot spots. I spent a little time trying Wi-Fi features out, and found logging into a network is extremely easy. Once connected, the QWERTY keyboard comes in very handy to type in passwords and search terms. Using the device as a PDF reader is truly remarkable. The PDF’s don’t only display in high resolution but you can also zoom into the pages, add notes and more. If you were to load a PDF which is password protected, it actually prompts you to enter the password and let you access the file in an instant. The Kindle also natively supports unprotected MOBI, TXT, JPEG, Bitmap, Audible, MP3, Doc, PNG, GIF and Doc files, some of which uses an internal conversion to display correctly.
Although the web browsing and music playing facilities are limited, this is an entry level product designed for lovers of books. If you are contemplating giving up paperbacks and making your first steps into the world of e-reading, then this is the device for you. This is a game changing e-reader at a frighteningly competitive price. Amazon's rivals in this market should be having to put up with numerous sleepless nights.
The bottom line: The 6" Kindle will not compare with the iPad, however with all its improvements, the affordable price, ease of use and slim portable design, it remains the best dedicated ebook reader on sale in South Africa.